Plumber License Requirements in Hawaii
- Training hours
- 10000 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $130
- Exam
- Journey Worker Plumber Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 3 years
- Issuing board
- Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No minimum age or criminal-history/background-check requirement is stated in the Board's own requirements/FAQ materials for Journey Worker Plumber licensure; the operative prerequisite is 5 years / 10,000 hours of verified plumbing work experience plus passing the Board's examination. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 10000 hours of training. Hawaii's Journey Worker Plumber (PJ) requirement is 5 years but not less than 10,000 hours of plumbing work in compliance with the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), verified via an Experience Verification form signed by a licensed supervising plumber (a formal state-registered apprenticeship program is not the only path -- verifiable work experience under a licensed plumber qualifies). A Master Plumber (PM) tier follows, requiring 2 years as a licensed journey worker plumber (or equivalent). [1]
- 3
Journey Worker Plumber Examination
Pass the Journey Worker Plumber Examination (fee: $90). Based on the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC); code edition referenced in the Board's FAQ is the 2006 UPC Candidates must first have their application approved by the Board, then register directly with PSI (https://test-takers.psiexams.com/hitrade); exam eligibility is valid for 2 years from the approval letter. The $90 exam fee is documented in the Board's FAQ; PSI Services, LLC as administrator is confirmed on the Board's own application/exam-dates page. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division with the $40 application fee. [3]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division issues your Journey Worker Plumber (PJ) for Hawaii.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $40 |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | $306 |
| Journey Worker Plumber Examination [2] | $90 |
License fee is prorated by where the licensure date falls within Hawaii's 3-year (triennium) renewal cycle -- $306 in year 1, $204 in year 2, $102 in year 3 of the triennium -- so no single fixed 'license' figure applies; set to null here rather than picking one tier. The $306 renewal fee is confirmed current for the 2027-2030-2033 renewal cycle (active-status renewal window May 10-June 30, 2027) on the Board's own page.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 3 years.
Plumbers renew every 3 years (current cycle: 2027, 2030, 2033) by June 30. Continued competency is required prior to every renewal, but the Board's published requirement is completion of a University of Hawaii Community College UPC update course/certificate rather than a fixed hour count, so ceHours is left null. Licensees newly licensed within the 12 months before a renewal date are exempt from the continued-competency requirement for that cycle.
Reciprocity
No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.
Hawaii has no reciprocal or endorsement agreements with other states for plumber licensure -- all applicants must meet the same 5-year/10,000-hour experience requirement and pass Hawaii's own examination. Out-of-state work experience can be counted toward the 10,000-hour requirement via the standard Experience Verification form, but it does not substitute for the Hawaii exam. No interstate compact covers plumbing.
Cost calculator
- $40
- $90
Frequently asked questions
What are Hawaii's requirements to become a licensed Journey Worker Plumber?
5 years but not less than 10,000 hours of plumbing work in compliance with the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), verified with an Experience Verification form, plus passing the Board's Journey Worker Plumber examination.
Who administers Hawaii's plumber licensing exam, and what does it cost?
PSI Services, LLC administers the exam. The exam fee is $90, paid directly to PSI after the Board approves your application and issues an approval letter.
How often do Hawaii plumber licenses need to be renewed?
Every 3 years, by June 30 of the renewal year (current cycle: 2027, 2030, 2033), for a $306 active-status renewal fee. A continued-competency requirement (a UPC update course through a University of Hawaii Community College) applies before every renewal, except for licensees newly licensed within the prior 12 months.
Does Hawaii have reciprocity with other states for plumbers?
No. Hawaii has no reciprocal or license-by-endorsement agreements with other states for plumbers. Out-of-state experience can count toward the 10,000-hour experience requirement, but every applicant must still pass Hawaii's own Journey Worker Plumber exam.
What's the next tier after Journey Worker Plumber?
Master Plumber (PM), which requires 2 years of experience as a licensed Journey Worker Plumber (or equivalent) before applying.
Sources
- [1] cca.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/EP-FAQs_07-18.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/electrician/application-deadline-examination-dates/ — accessed 2026-07-12
- [3] cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/electrician/ — accessed 2026-07-12